My parents bought the store in 1943 or 44. Up to that time they leased it. I remember hearing about acquiring the store in 1932 for $25.00. I don’t know if this was by the month or the year. Twenty-five dollars was a lot of money in 1932. I was born in San Antonio on Clark Avenue and Rigsby in 1931.

My Aunt Charlotte Walhoefer gave me 5 silver dollars for my 1st birthday and mother used the money to purchase items for the sewing department. She purchased thread, needles, cloth, buttons, dye, and ribbon. In those times most of the clothing people wore was hand made. This department was a big part of the total sales until the 1940s when people could afford store bought clothes. I have the cabinet that thread was kept in and also the one dye was displayed.

Shoes were another big department, of course not anything like today. The store was one half the size the building is today. It was expanded after they purchased the land, the house next door, and the store.

I lived in the store until the house was built across the street. We had a generator to run the refrigerator and two light bulbs. We were some of the first to receive electricity and a telephone. The telephone was the crank type and there were 9 people on the same line. Nothing was secret.

Mother was the main one working in the store as Dad did odd jobs to help. He was an electrician and wired a lot of houses in the area as electricity became more available. One of the most vivid memories of being with Dad on a wiring job was at your grandfather’s house. I was impressed with the high copper antenna Uncle Rufe had that allowed them to use a crystal set. Shortly after that they purchased a radio and used the same antenna.

Dad would also purchase a calf and butcher it for sale in the store. This grew into a good profit center. He developed a meat route on W.W. White Road and Rigsby (not in the city limits) and the Union Gas Company settlement which was one street long with about 20 houses.

The house across the road was built in 1935 and cost $900. It had 2 bedrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, and bath. In 1948 another bedroom was added and a water heater. This is the year I left to go to A&M.

Dad dug 5 water wells on the 5 acres, finding water on the fifth one. It was hand dug and about 20 feet deep. We had a Cypress water tank next to the house and furnished our water, but not to the store. I cannot remember any water line to the school. Also, cannot remember when the school was established there. You might go to the museum at the school (which is the building we attended the first five grades). The glass cases were in our store and was donated to the museum. There may be more information there.

My class was big, 8 students. Some of them were Bernice Adams, Herbert Hudek, Wallace Sendemeyer, Betty Jean Smith, W.C. Vasbinder, Janet Blandford, Helen Stuart, and myself. Miss Sheba Walters was our teacher. The 1st 5 grades were in one building and 6 – 9 in the other.

When Levi’s became popular Mother stocked them and developed a huge customer base. Yes, they were the cheapest around. Mom marked them up 10%. I come in contact with people today that when they find out my name and am the son of Ed and Ruby Avery they tell me about buying Levi’s there. I know some were from Floresville.

Mom ran the store after my father died in 1972. She was robbed in 1977 and beaten bad enough to be hospitalized. My sisters and I encouraged her to lease the store out for her safety, and she did so for about a year but was unhappy all the time and did not like the way the store was operated so we let her go back to running it, which she did until having a stroke in 1979. It was leased out again but did not work out and was sold in the middle 1980s.

I have a photo of the store but do not know when it was taken. The store I remember was not painted and had a roof over the front porch. This photo has a painted surface. It must been taken in early 1920s. I will make a copy and send it to you. I don’t want to let it out of my possession as it is the only picture we have.

I hope this will give you something to use. If you have any questions please let me know. There is a lot more about our years with it.